Babouche

Super flat, thin soled and pointy toed, let me introduce you to the babouche. Ba-bouche, I love saying that word….(go on, say it).

Vogue’s ‘it’ shoe silhouette for 2016 isn’t a new style exactly, what with the Moroccan slipper being around for centuries, but like most fashion trends inspiration for today comes from our deep past.

I can’t help but note the popularity of the babouche as further proof of the rise of the ugly flat shoe. Remember the Gucci backless loafer with fur lining and Céline’s glove shoe from last year? Yeh, I know, they’re not for everyone. Personally I like them, well some of them (I do worry about the potential odour issue of the fur lined mules… but hey, each to their own).

Céline’s Phoebe Philo is the greatest champion of less than beautiful footwear and her latest reincarnation of the babouche has resulted in a witchy vamp of a slipper with pointier toe and chunky buckled strap across the middle of the foot. Other designers have also embraced and taken a cue from the Moroccan flat shoe. You might have noticed a strong babouche influence on Spring / Summer collections in the form of mules, slippers and slides.

If you have a spare €600 you too can own a pair of Céline slippers. Fortunately I found these lookalikes for a snip of the price. Or if you’re more of a traditionalist you might prefer to take a trip and barter for them in the souks in Marrakesh.

How to wear? I’ve gone for a sports luxe look here with relaxed jogger trousers, an oversized sweatshirt and large clutch bag but these shoes will pretty much work with anything in your closet from wide leg trousers to cropped denim flares, midi and full length skirts.

What do you think of babouches? How do you style yours?